Combined absolute/relative touchpad navigation

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems, such as television receivers, are disclosed for receiving data from remote controls for manipulation of graphical user interfaces. Aspects include providing a seamless transition between absolute and relative navigational schemes to allow for users to more efficiently make use of touch and position sensitive remote controls. Further, aspects include dynamically scaling the touch and position sensitive remote controls outputs to match various grid sizes that may be included in the graphical user interface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Not Applicable.

SUMMARY

Described herein are devices, methods, systems and computer programproducts, for example, useful for manipulating a television receiver anda television display, such as by receiving and interpreting inputcommands from a remote control including a touch sensitive or positionsensitive interface, such as a touch pad or track pad. The discloseddevices, methods, systems and computer program products enable users toinitially navigate a graphical user interface using a remote control inan absolute scheme, where coordinates of the touch or position sensitiveinterface are mapped directly onto the graphical user interface, butthen the navigation switches to a relative scheme, where differences incoordinates of the touch or position sensitive interface are mapped ontothe graphical user interface. In this way, users can more intuitivelynavigate the user interface with fewer numbers of remote controlinteractions. The disclosed devices, methods, systems and computerprogram products further allow users to navigate any shaped grid of agraphical user interface using a touch or position sensitive interfaceof a remote control by mapping coordinates of the touch or positionsensitive interface in a dynamically fashion, scaling the coordinates towhatever grid may be presented to the user in real-time.

In a first aspect, provided are methods, such as computer implementedmethods. Computer implemented methods of this aspect may be performed bytelevision receivers, such as an cable, satellite, or over the top (OTT)receiver. In a specific embodiment, a method of this aspect comprisesgenerating, using a television receiver including one or moreprocessors, a video signal for displaying a receiver interface;receiving a data stream from a remote control associated with thetelevision receiver, such as a data stream that includes coordinatescomprising at least a starting coordinate and an ending coordinateincluding coordinates that correspond to determinations of locations ofa position sensitive interface of the remote control; identifying anabsolute location of the receiver interface, such as by mapping thestarting coordinate of the data stream to the absolute location of thereceiver interface; modifying the receiver interface to include anindicator at the absolute location on the receiver interface;identifying a path of the receiver interface for movement of theindicator, such as a path that corresponds to a sequence of locations onthe receiver interface from the absolute location to a final location,and where identifying the path may include converting the coordinates toa sequence of relative locations of the receiver interface from theabsolute location to the final location; modifying the receiverinterface to include the indicator at the sequence of relative locationsalong the path; and receiving a confirmation signal from the remotecontrol, wherein the confirmation signal corresponds to determination ofa selection, and wherein the selection corresponds to selection of anindicated item of the receiver interface. Optionally, the indicated itemof the receiver interface corresponds to an item of the receiverinterface having the final location.

In some embodiments, methods of this aspect further comprise receiving asecond data stream from the remote control, such as a second data streamthat includes second coordinates comprising at least a second startingcoordinate and a second ending coordinate, and that may correspond todeterminations of locations of the position sensitive interface of theremote control; identifying a second path of the receiver interface formovement of the indicator, such as a second path that corresponds to asequence of locations on the receiver interface from the final locationto a second final location, and where identifying the second pathincludes converting the second coordinates to a second sequence ofrelative coordinates of the receiver interface from the final locationto the second final location; and modifying the receiver interface toinclude the indicator at the second sequence of relative coordinatesalong the second path. Optionally, the indicated item of the receiverinterface corresponds to an item of the receiver interface having thesecond final location.

In embodiments, methods of this aspect may further comprise receiving asecond data stream from the remote control, such as a second data streamthat includes second coordinates comprising at least a second startingcoordinate and a second ending coordinate, and where the secondcoordinates optionally correspond to determinations of locations of theposition sensitive interface of the remote control; identifying a secondabsolute location of the receiver interface, such as by mapping thesecond starting coordinate of the second data stream to the secondabsolute location of the receiver interface; modifying the receiverinterface to include the indicator at the second absolute location onthe receiver interface; identifying a second path of the receiverinterface for movement of the indicator, such as a second path thatcorresponds to a sequence of locations on the receiver interface fromthe second absolute location to a second final location, and whereidentifying the second path optionally includes converting the secondcoordinates to a second sequence of relative coordinates of the receiverinterface from the second absolute location to the second finallocation; and modifying the receiver interface to include the indicatorat the second sequence of relative coordinates along the second path.Optionally, a method of this aspect further comprises receiving a secondconfirmation signal from the remote control, such as a secondconfirmation signal that corresponds to determination of a secondselection, such as a selection of an item of the receiver interfacehaving the second final location.

Optionally, identifying an absolute location of the receiver interfaceincludes converting a starting coordinate to a location on the receiverinterface based on mapping a range of coordinates to an arrangement ofitems on the receiver interface. Optionally, receiving a data streamincludes receiving wireless data from the remote control using a remotecontrol interface of the television receiver.

In another embodiment, a method of the first aspect comprisesgenerating, for example using a television receiver including one ormore processors, a video signal for displaying a receiver interface;modifying the receiver interface to include a first grid arrangement,such as a first grid arrangement that includes a first plurality of gridlocations; receiving first data from a remote control associated withthe television receiver, such as first data that includes that a firstcoordinate corresponding to a determination of a first position of aposition sensitive interface of the remote control; mapping the firstcoordinate to a first grid location of the first grid arrangement;modifying the receiver interface to include a second grid arrangementthat is different from the first grid arrangement; receiving second datafrom the remote control, such as second data including a secondcoordinate that corresponds to a determination of a second position ofthe position sensitive interface of the remote control; and mapping thesecond coordinate to a second grid location of the second gridarrangement. Optionally, mapping the first coordinate includes scaling afirst coordinate range of the position sensitive interface to match atleast a portion of the first grid arrangement. Optionally, mapping thesecond coordinate includes scaling a second coordinate range of theposition sensitive interface to match at least a portion of the secondgrid arrangement. Optionally, a coordinate includes two sub-coordinates,such as x-y coordinates or any number of coordinates required by adesignated coordinate system.

In one embodiment, a method of this aspect further comprises receiving aconfirmation signal from the remote control, such as a confirmationsignal that corresponds to determination of a selection; and performingan action based on the item of the first grid arrangement. Optionally,the selection corresponds to selection of an item of the first gridarrangement. In one embodiment, a method of this aspect furthercomprises receiving a confirmation signal from the remote control, suchas a confirmation signal that corresponds to determination of aselection and performing an action based on the item of the first gridarrangement. Optionally, the selection corresponds to selection of anitem of the second grid arrangement.

Advantageously, the disclosed methods allow for use of any gridarrangements and may permit a user to use a full range of coordinates ofa position sensitive interface of a remote control to interact with thegrid arrangement. In embodiments, a grid arrangement corresponds to anarrangement of selectable items included on the receiver interface.Optionally, the first grid arrangement and the second grid arrangementinclude different numbers of grid locations. Optionally, the first gridarrangement and the second grid arrangement include a same number ofgrid locations, but where the first grid arrangement has a differentlayout from the second grid arrangement.

In one embodiment, mapping a coordinate includes scaling a fullcoordinate range of the position sensitive interface to match a fullgrid arrangement. Optionally, a scaled coordinate range includes a samenumber of scaled coordinates as a number of grid locations in a gridarrangement. Optionally, a grid arrangement includes a regular gridarray. Optionally, a grid arrangement includes a non-regular grid array.

Any of a variety of remote controls are useful with aspects of theinvention. For example, in embodiments, a position sensitive interfaceof a remote control is touch sensitive interface. In embodiments, aposition sensitive interface of a remote control is a gesture interface.Optionally, the position sensitive interface of a remote control is atouch pad interface. Optionally, the position sensitive interface of aremote control is a touch screen interface.]]

In other aspects, systems are provided, such as systems for achievingand/or performing the methods described herein, such as televisionreceivers, set top boxes, etc. In exemplary embodiments, a system ofthis aspect comprises one or more processors and a non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium communicatively coupled or otherwisepositioned in data communication with the one or more processors.Optionally, a system of this aspect further comprises one or more datatransceivers coupled with the one or more processors, such as one ormore transceivers useful for receiving and/or decoding streamingtelevision or media data. Optionally, a system of this aspect furthercomprises one or more media output connections, such as one or moreaudio-video output connections for providing a displayable video signalto a display device, such as a monitor or television. In embodiments,the non-transitory computer readable storage medium includesinstructions that, when executed by the one or more hardware processors,cause the one or more hardware processors to perform one or more of themethods described herein.

For example, in a specific embodiment, a system of this aspect comprisesone or more processors, and a non-transitory computer readable storagemedium coupled with the one or more processors and includinginstructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causethe one or more processors to perform operations including various stepsof the method embodiments described above.

In other aspects, computer program products are provided, such ascomputer program products configured to achieve and/or perform methodsdescribed herein. In exemplary embodiments, a computer program productof this aspect is a non-transitory computer readable storage mediumcomprising instructions that, when executed by one or more hardwareprocessors, cause the one or more hardware processors to perform one ormore of the methods described herein.

For example, in a specific embodiment, a computer program product ofthis aspect comprises a non-transitory computer readable storage mediumcomprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors,cause the one or more processors to perform operations including varioussteps of the method embodiments described above.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the useof such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognizedthat various modifications are possible within the scope of theinvention claimed. Thus, it should be understood that although thepresent invention has been specifically disclosed by embodiments andoptional features, modification and variation of the concepts hereindisclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that suchmodifications and variations are considered to be within the scope ofthis invention as defined by the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example media content distribution system.

FIG. 2 shows an example television display configuration.

FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 3C, and FIG. 3D show example entry of data inaccordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, and FIG. 4C show example entry of data in accordancewith some embodiments.

FIG. 5 shows an overview of an exemplary method according to someembodiments.

FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, and FIG. 6C show example remote control configurationsin accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 7 shows an overview of an exemplary method according to someembodiments.

FIG. 8 shows an example computing system or device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is directed to or towards systems, methods, andproducts for interacting with and/or controlling a graphical userinterface, such as a receiver interface of a television receiver. Thedisclosed systems, methods, and products enable more efficientnavigation of the graphical user interface, such as by interpretinginput commands in a more efficient manner, requiring fewer numbers ofinput steps to achieve a particular result, and/or using reducedprocessor or system resources, as compared to previous techniques. Inthis way, a user experience can be enhanced by increasing the usabilityand reducing the input time required for performing a many stepsequence, resulting in a more intuitive input experience for a user.

For example, the disclosed systems, methods, and products may performnavigation of a graphical user interface by receiving input data from aposition sensitive and/or touch sensitive input device and processingthe input data more efficiently. Position sensitive and touch sensitiveinput devices are useful for providing input data, such as to a deviceor system, that can be interpreted as providing motion, position, force,etc. As used herein, position sensitive and touch sensitive inputdevices are intended to be distinguished from more simple input devices,such as buttons, switches, or arrays of these.

As will be understood by the skilled artisan, buttons or arrays ofbuttons may be present on a keyboard, remote control, or other similarinput device and are typically intended for providing input data viaindividual buttons presses. A remote control or keyboard may typicallyinclude a button array having dimensions of 3 buttons to 40 buttons, forexample. In contrast, a touch sensitive and position sensitive inputdevice may encompass orders of magnitude more input elements (e.g.,millions) than a keyboard, remote control, or other similar button-basedinput device, allowing for very fine grained input resolution, and mayprovide additional information beyond the typical on/off or positioninput provided by a button, such as force, contact area, speed,direction, etc.

As used herein, a graphical user interface refers to an interactivedisplay in which commands can be entered and received using one or moreinput devices for purposes of controlling aspects of the graphical userinterface, including items or objects shown on the interface. Forexample, a user may perform item selection using a graphical userinterface, such as for advancing a graphical user interface through oneor more menus. As another example, a user may input data using agraphical user interface, such as by directing input using a virtualkeyboard or keypad. Navigation may be achieved, in various embodiments,by receiving input commands which may select which of a hierarchicalgroup of menus are to be displayed on the graphical user interface.Graphical user interfaces may be displayed to a user on one or moredisplay devices, such as a monitor, television, etc. Graphical userinterfaces may be interactive and non-interactive, in part. For example,a graphical user interface may include an input or navigation portion,such as including a grid or arrangement of interactive virtual buttonsor selection elements. Additionally or alternatively, portions of agraphical user interface may be used for displaying media content, suchas static images or video, which may not be interactive, for example.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an example media content distribution system100 is shown in which aspects of the present disclosure may beimplemented. For brevity, the system 100 is depicted in a simplified andconceptual form, and may generally include more or fewer systems,devices, networks, and/or other components as desired. Further, numberand type of features or elements incorporated within the system 100 mayor may not be implementation-specific, and at least some of the aspectsof the system 100 may be similar to a cable television distributionsystem, an IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) content distributionsystem, and/or any other type of media or content distribution system.Although the depicted system 100 identifies a satellite based contentdistribution system, the invention may be implemented and/or used withany type of television or video distribution system, such as cable,terrestrial/over the air, IPTV, on demand, subscription-based,network-based, etc. Optionally, the depicted system 100 may be used witha digital video recorder (DVR) system, where content received from atelevision or video distribution system is recorded for later playback.

The example system 100 may include a service provider 102, a satelliteuplink 104, a plurality of orbiting (e.g., geosynchronous) satellites106 a, 106 b, 106 c, a satellite dish 108, a primary television receiver110, a plurality of secondary television receivers 112 a, 112 b, and aplurality of televisions 114 a, 114 b, 114 c, 114 d. The system 100 mayalso include at least one network 120 that establishes a bi-directionalcommunication path for data transfer between and among any of theprimary television receiver 110, secondary television receivers 112 a-b,televisions 114 a-d, and sensor 116 of the example system 100. In someembodiments, sensor 116 may be in data communication with any one ormore of the primary television receiver 110, secondary televisionreceivers 112 a-b, televisions 114 a-d and network 120. Optionally,sensor 116 may be in data communication with service provider 102, suchas by way of network 120.

In some embodiments, the network 120 may further establish abi-directional communication path for data transfer between the primarytelevision receiver 110 and the service provider 102. The network 120 isintended to represent any number of terrestrial and/or non-terrestrialnetwork features or elements. For example, the network 120 mayincorporate or exhibit any number of features or elements of variouswireless and/or hardwired packet-based communication networks such as,for example, a WAN (Wide Area Network) network, a HAN (Home AreaNetwork) network, a LAN (Local Area Network) network, a WLAN (WirelessLocal Area Network) network, the Internet, a cellular communicationsnetwork, and/or any other type of communication network(s) configuredsuch that data may be transferred between and among respective elementsof the example system 100.

The primary television receiver 110, and the secondary televisionreceivers 112 a-b, as described throughout may generally be any type oftelevision receiver, such as a set top box or TV dongle, for example. Inanother example, the primary television receiver 110, and the secondarytelevision receivers 112 a-b, may exhibit functionality integrated aspart of or into a television, monitor, a digital video recorder (DVR), acomputing device, such as a tablet computing device, or any othercomputing system or device, as well as variations thereof. Further, theprimary television receiver 110 and the network 120, together with thesecondary television receivers 112 a-b, televisions 114 a-d, andoptionally one or more sensors 116, may form at least a portion of aparticular home computing network, and may each be respectivelyconfigured so as to enable communications in accordance with anyparticular communication protocol(s) and/or standard(s) including, forexample, TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol),DLNA/DTCP-IP (Digital Living Network Alliance/Digital Transmission CopyProtection over Internet Protocol), HDMI/HDCP (High-DefinitionMultimedia Interface/High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection), etc.

In practice, the satellites 106 a-c may be configured to receive uplinksignals 122 a, 122 b from the satellite uplink 104. In this example, theuplink signals 122 a-b may contain one or more transponder streams ofparticular data or content, such as content streams, like particulartelevision channels or other data feeds, that is supplied by the serviceprovider 102. For example, each of the respective uplink signals 122 a-bmay contain various media content such a plurality of encoded HD (HighDefinition) television channels, various SD (Standard Definition)television channels, audio programming, on-demand programming,programming information, advertisements, and/or any other content in theform of at least one transponder stream, and in accordance with anallotted carrier frequency and bandwidth. In this example, differentmedia content may be carried using different ones of the satellites 106a-c. Further, different media content may be carried using differenttransponders of a particular satellite (e.g., satellite 106 a); thus,such media content may be transmitted at different frequencies and/ordifferent frequency ranges. For example, a first and second televisionchannel may be carried on a first carrier frequency over a firsttransponder of satellite 106 a, and a third, fourth, and fifthtelevision channel may be carried on second carrier frequency over afirst transponder of satellite 106 b, or, the third, fourth, and fifthtelevision channel may be carried on a second carrier frequency over asecond transponder of satellite 106 a, etc.

The satellites 106 a-c may further be configured to relay the uplinksignals 122 a-b to the satellite dish 208 as downlink signals 124 a, 124b. Similar to the uplink signals 122 a-b, each of the downlink signals124 a-b may contain one or more transponder streams of particular dataor content, such as various encoded and/or at least partiallyelectronically scrambled television channels, advertisements, on-demandprogramming, etc., in accordance with an allotted carrier frequency andbandwidth. The downlink signals 124 a-b, however, may not necessarilycontain the same or similar content as a corresponding one of the uplinksignals 122 a-b. For example, the uplink signal 122 a may include afirst transponder stream containing at least a first group or groupingof television channels, and the downlink signal 124 a may include asecond transponder stream containing at least a second, different groupor grouping of television channels. In other examples, the first andsecond group of television channels may have one or more televisionchannels in common. In sum, there may be varying degrees of correlationbetween the uplink signals 122 a-b and the downlink signals 124 a-b,both in terms of content and underlying characteristics.

Continuing with the example implementation scenario, the satellite dish108 may be provided for use to receive one or more content streams, forexample live, prerecorded or on-demand television programming, such ason a subscription basis, provided by the service provider 102, satelliteuplink 104, and/or satellites 106 a-c. For example, the satellite dish108 may be configured to receive particular transponder streams, ordownlink signals 124 a-b, from one or more of the satellites 106 a-c.Based on the characteristics of the primary television receiver 110and/or satellite dish 108, however, it may only be possible to capturetransponder streams from a limited number of transponders concurrently.For example, a tuner of the primary television receiver 110 may only beable to tune to a single transponder stream from a transponder of asingle satellite, such as satellite 106 a, at a time. In certainembodiments, however, a tuner of primary television receiver 110 may beable to simultaneously receive multiple transponder streams.

Additionally, the primary television receiver 110, which iscommunicatively coupled to the satellite dish 108, may subsequentlyselect a content stream via a tuner, decode, and relay particulartransponder streams to the television 114 c or 114 d for displaythereon. For example, the satellite dish 208 and the primary televisionreceiver 210 may, respectively, be configured to receive, decode, andrelay at least one premium high definition (HD) formatted televisionchannel to the television 114 c. Programming or content associated withthe HD channel may generally be presented “live,” or from a recording aspreviously stored on, by, or at the primary television receiver 110. Inthis example, the HD channel may be output to the television 114 c inaccordance with the HDMI/HDCP content protection technologies. Otherembodiments are possible. For example, in some embodiments, the HDchannel may be output to the television 114 c in accordance with theMoCAO (Multimedia over Coax Alliance) home entertainment networkingstandard. Still other embodiments are possible.

Further, the primary television receiver 110 may select, via one or moretuners, decode, and relay particular transponder streams to one or bothof the secondary television receivers 112 a-b, which may in turn relayparticular transponder streams to a corresponding one of the television114 a and the television 114 a for display thereon. For example, thesatellite dish 108 and the primary television receiver 110 may,respectively, be configured to receive, decode, and relay at least onetelevision channel to the television 114 a by way of the secondarytelevision receiver 112 a. Similar to the above-example, the televisionchannel may generally be presented “live,” or from a recording aspreviously stored on the primary television receiver 110, and may beoutput to the television 114 a by way of the secondary televisionreceiver 112 a in accordance with a particular content protectiontechnology and/or networking standard. Other embodiments are possible.

In various embodiments, input commands may be received by primarytelevision receiver 110 or secondary television receivers 112 a-b, suchas for selection of programming for display on televisions 114 a-d.Input commands may be received from one or more input devices connectedto network 120 or one or more input devices directly or wirelesslyconnected to primary television receiver 110 or secondary televisionreceivers 112 a-b. For example, an input device may exemplified as aremote control.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example television display configuration 200, inaccordance with some embodiments. Television display configuration 200includes television 202, receiver 204 and remote control 206. Television202 may, for example, represent any of televisions 114 a-d illustratedin FIG. 1, or another non-television display device, such as a computermonitor. Similarly, receiver 204 may, for example, represent any ofprimary television receiver 110 or secondary television receivers 112a-b. Television 202 displays a graphical user interface, exemplified asa receiver interface provided by television receiver 204.

As will be understood by the skilled artisan, video signal encodinghardware present within receiver 204 may encode a video signal, such asincluding the receiver interface and/or television video programming,which is output from the receiver 204. In embodiments, the video signalmay be a digital video signal or an analog video signal, which may beprovided to television 202, such as using one or more signal cables,such as a composite, S-video, high-definition multimedia interface(HDMI) or other digital or analog signal cable. Embodiments arecontemplated where a video signal is provided from receiver 204 totelevision 202 by way of one or more networks or one or moreintermediate devices. Optionally, a video signal may be provided in anuncompressed form or in a compressed form. Upon receiving the videosignal, television receiver may decode or otherwise process the videosignal for display on the screen of television 202.

Receiver 204 includes remote control interface 208 for receivingcommands from remote control 206. Remote control interface 208 may beexemplified by a variety of hardware, such as for wirelessly receivingcommands from remote control 206. Wireless remote commands may bereceived, for example, using one or more wireless technologies, such asoptical, infrared or radio frequency electromagnetic technologies. Inone embodiment, remote control interface 208 includes an infraredreceiver and remote control 206 includes an infrared transmitter. Inanother embodiment, remote control interface 208 includes a Bluetoothreceiver and remote control 206 includes a Bluetooth transmitter. Otherexamples are possible. Optionally, remote commands from remote control206 may be received over a wired connection at remote control interface208.

Remote control 206 is illustrated as including a plurality of buttons210, as will be understood by the skilled artisan, for communicating anyof a set of remote commands to receiver 204 by way of remote controlinterface 208. Remote control 206 further includes a position sensitiveinterface 212, here exemplified as a touchpad or trackpad typeinterface. For user convenience, for example, position sensitiveinterface 212 may include one or more graphics on the surface, such asnumerals or other symbols, as depicted in FIG. 2.

Other remote control types are envisioned, including, but not limited togesture based devices, such as including one or more gyroscopic sensors,one or more accelerometers, one or more video or optical sensors, one ormore depth sensors, one or more range sensors, and/or one or more motionsensors.

Position sensitive interface 212 is useful for generation of coordinatescorresponding to locations of the position sensitive interface at whichinputs are received. For example, coordinates may be generated byposition sensitive interface 212 that correspond to the location on theposition sensitive interface 212 at which a user's finger contacts thesurface of the position sensitive interface and these coordinates may betransmitted by remote control 206 for receipt at remote controlinterface 208. As will be understood by the skilled artisan, coordinatesof position sensitive interface may correspond to Cartesian coordinates(i.e., x-y position). Alternatively, linear coordinates may be used,which may optionally correspond to an element number of input elementsof position sensitive interface 212 (e.g., row 1 includes elementnumbers 1 to n, row two includes element numbers n+1 to 2n, etc.). Othercoordinate systems are possible. Position sensitive interface 212 mayalso include one or more buttons which may be clickable, as will beunderstood by the skilled artisan, to allow the position sensitiveinterface to register button presses, which may be communicated and/orinterpreted as selection or confirmation signals, in addition tolocation coordinates.

FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, FIG. 3C, and FIG. 3D depicts embodiments showing areceiver interface 302 for entry of data and overhead and front views ofa remote control 306. As illustrated, receiver interface 302 shows avirtual keyboard for entry of text into a search box. Characters may beselectable, such as using remote control 306.

As illustrated in FIG. 3A aspects of the invention may be implementedfor allowing a user to provide data to a television receiver, resultingin modification of receiver interface 302. In FIG. 3A, when a user'sfinger 314 first makes contact (316) with the position sensitiveinterface 312 of remote control 306, coordinates of contact 316 may begenerated by remote control 306 and transmitted to a televisionreceiver, for example. The coordinates of contact 316 received by thetelevision receiver may be mapped to an absolute location on receiverinterface 302. For example, the coordinates of contact 316 may be mappedto a corresponding absolute location on the receiver interface 302, andthe receiver interface 302 may be modified, such as to include anindicator at the absolute location of the receiver interface, hereexemplified as a highlighted border around the character “T”. In thisway, a user may be able to provide an approximate location of theirdesired input in an absolute fashion, with the touch sensitive interfacebeing mapped onto the receiver interface 302.

Should a user wish to select a different position on receiver interface302, relative translation of the indicated position can be provided by acorresponding relative motion of the user's finger 314 on positionsensitive interface 312. Motion of the user's finger 314 while it is incontact with position sensitive interface 312 of remote control 306 mayresult in additional coordinates being generated and transmitted byremote control 306. FIG. 3B illustrates such an embodiment. Coordinatestransmitted by the remote control may be received at the televisionreceiver as a stream of data including a plurality of coordinatesincluding a starting coordinate corresponding to contact 316. The streamof coordinates may be mapped to a path on the receiver interface 302 fortranslation of the indicator in a motion corresponding to the motion ofthe user's finger on the position sensitive interface 312. In FIG. 3B,the user's finger slides across position sensitive interface from thelower left position, corresponding to the character “T” to a position upand to the right, passing, for example, through first past the character“U” to the character “P”.

When a user desires to register a selection indicated by the highlight,further input may be provided, such as a button press. As illustrated inFIG. 3B, when position sensitive interface 312 is exemplified as aclickable touch pad, such a selection may be provided by the userpressing down 318 on the touch pad, so as to “click” and engage a buttonbeneath the touch pad. In response to the button being engaged, remotecontrol 306 may transmit a confirmation or selection signal, which isreceived by the television receiver and may result in the televisionreceiver modifying the receiver interface 302 in accordance with theselection.

Upon registration of the selection of the character “P”, the search form320 on receiver interface 302 may be populated with the selectedcharacter, as illustrated in FIG. 3C. Further additional characters andinputs may be selected. In FIG. 3C, the user's finger travels from thelocation on position sensitive interface 312 corresponding to thecharacter “P” to the location corresponding to the character “A” toenter this as the next character in the search query. A stream ofcoordinates may be received at the television receiver from remotecontrol 306 corresponding to the motion, and these coordinates may bemapped into a relative translation of the highlighted character on apath from “P” to “A”, passing through and highlighting intermediatecharacters as appropriate, by sequential modifications of the receiverinterface 302. Again, registration of a selection by engaging the buttonbeneath the touch pad results in remote control 306 transmitting aselection signal, which is received by the television receiver and mayresult in the television receiver modifying the receiver interface 302in accordance with the selection.

As illustrated in FIG. 3D, the user's finger 314 may be lifted from thetouch sensitive interface 312 and moved to and brought into contact withthe touch sensitive interface 312 at a different location 322, in afirst motion 324. This results in transmission of coordinatescorresponding to the different location 322 by remote control 306. Atthis point, no change in the indicated position is made on receiverinterface 302, which remains at the location of the character “A”. In asecond motion 326, the user's finger 314 is moved across touch sensitiveinterface 312, and a stream of coordinates are transmitted by remotecontrol 306. Upon receiving the stream of coordinates, these coordinatesare mapped in a relative fashion to result in modification of thereceiver interface to generate a relative translation of the indicatedposition, such as first to the character “H”, then to the character “I”,then to the character “O”, then to the character “P”. Optionally, theuser may register a selection, such as by engaging the button beneaththe touch pad may, which may result in generation of a selection signal.Further relative translations and selections may be repeated, asdesired.

The techniques described above and illustrated by FIGS. 3A-3D exemplifyhow the television receiver may receive a stream of data including aplurality of coordinates and interpret a first coordinate in an absolutesense to position an indicator on a receiver interface, with subsequentcoordinates interpreted as relative translations of the indicator on thereceiver interface.

Another embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, and FIG. 4D,which depicts a receiver interface 402 for entry of data and overheadand front views of a remote control 406. Here, user's finger 414 issimultaneously or substantially simultaneously brought into contact withposition sensitive interface 412 and a selection is made, as indicatedby element 416, such as by engaging a button underneath the positionsensitive interface 412. In this way, coordinates of the location atwhich user's finger 414 is brought into contact with the positionsensitive interface can be transmitted to the television receiver, whichcan modify the receiver interface to indicate the corresponding absolutelocation of the character grid (highlighted character “L”), and an entryin search form 420 generated via a modification to the receiverinterface.

In the instance illustrated in FIG. 4B, the user's finger is lifted fromthe touch sensitive interface, as illustrated by motion 424, and broughtback into contact with the touch sensitive interface at a locationcorresponding to the character “C” on the character grid. Coordinates ofthis location are transmitted by the remote control 406 to a televisionreceiver. In this embodiment, because the previous character “L” wasregistered via a selection signal, this resulted in a reset of theabsolute/relative translation scheme and the re-positioning of theuser's finger 414 on position sensitive interface 412 results in thecoordinates transmitted by remote control 406 being mapped in anabsolute sense to the character grid, so the character “C” becomes theindicated character upon the receiver interface 402 being changed inresponse to the coordinates received. When the user's finger is draggedacross the position sensitive interface 412, as shown by motion 426, astream of coordinates are transmitted by remote control 406. The streamof received coordinates are mapped in a relative sense by the televisionreceiver, and corresponding changes to receiver interface 402 are made,with the “I” character becoming indicated by a highlight, followed bythe “0” character becoming subsequently indicated. Registration of aselection, such as by engaging the button beneath the position sensitiveinterface 412, may result in the television receiver receiving aselection signal and interpreting this signal for registration of theindicated character “O”, with a corresponding change made to thereceiver interface 402.

In FIG. 4C, the user's finger is not lifted from the position sensitiveinterface 412, but instead moves around the position sensitive interfaceaccording to path 428. Although a selection signal was registeredprevious to this motion, since the user's finger was not removed fromthe position sensitive interface, the stream of coordinatescorresponding to path 428 include a first coordinate that is mapped inan absolute sense to the position on the character grid corresponding tothe character “O”. Following this, additional coordinates of the streamare received by the television receiver and mapped to follow a relativepath, for example a path that moves as follows: “N” to “H” to “G” to “B”to “C” to “D” to “J” to “K” to “Q” to “W”.

The techniques described above and illustrated by FIGS. 4A-4C exemplifyhow the television receiver may receive a stream of data including aplurality of coordinates and interpret a first coordinate in an absolutesense to position an indicator on a receiver interface, with subsequentcoordinates interpreted as relative translations of the indicator on thereceiver interface and additionally reset for interpretation of a nextcoordinate in the absolute sense following a selection signal.

FIG. 5 provides an overview of an exemplary method embodiment 500 forimplementation of combined absolute and relative position sensitivenavigation of a receiver interface. Initially, at 505, a video signalfor a receiver interface is generated. At 510, a first coordinate isreceived from a remote control, such as a first coordinate in a streamof coordinates. At 515, the first coordinate is mapped to an absolutelocation on the receiver interface, such as an absolute locationcorresponding to the position of the first coordinate on a touchsensitive interface of the remote control. At 520, the receiverinterface is modified to include an indicator, such as a highlight orother indicator, at the absolute location on the receiver interface. At525, a second coordinate is received from the remote control, such as asecond coordinate in the stream of coordinates. At 530, the secondcoordinate is converted to a relative location on the receiverinterface, such as a location that is positioned a correspondingdirection and distance from the absolute location as the direction anddistance of the second coordinate from the first coordinate. At 535, thereceiver interface is modified to include the indicator at the relativelocation.

The skilled artisan will appreciate that any of a variety ofconventional techniques for encoding and generation of a digital oranalog video signal corresponding to the receiver can be used for thecreation and modification of the receiver interface signal. As will beunderstood by the skilled artisan, modification of a receiver interfacecan be achieved using known techniques in the art of computer graphics,including modification of a data set corresponding to the distribution,colors, locations, etc., of pixels, sprites, vectors, etc.

Mapping coordinates to locations on a receiver interface can also beachieved using a variety of techniques. In one embodiment, a full rangeof coordinates corresponding to the remote control position sensitiveinterface is known. This range may be converted, for example, to alocation range using one or more scaling techniques, which may convert acoordinate range to a pixel range, for example. Such a pixel range maycorrespond to the full area of the receiver interface or the pixel rangemay correspond to a subset of the receiver interface, for example. Usingscaling/conversion techniques, the absolute location on a receiverinterface that a coordinate may be mapped to may be determined byapplying a scaling factor to the coordinate. For determination of arelative location, a difference between coordinates may be determinedand the scaling factor may be applied to the difference to determine therelative location based on a previous location. Other examples andtechniques are possible.

FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, and FIG. 6C depicts embodiments showing a receiverinterface 602 for entry of data and a remote control 606. For entry ofdata, remote control 606 includes a position sensitive interface 612. Asa user's finger is placed into contact with position sensitive interface612, coordinate data is transmitted from the remote control to atelevision receiver. Upon receiving the coordinate data, televisionreceiver may modify receiver interface 602, such as by inclusion of anindicator, to represent a location corresponding to coordinates of theposition sensitive interface.

In FIG. 6A, receiver interface 602 shows a first grid arrangement 608,representing a virtual keyboard for entry of text into a search box.Grid arrangement 608 shown in FIG. 6A includes seven rows with rows 1-6including 6 columns and row 7 including 3 columns. Coordinates receivedfrom remote control 606 need not be so distributed, but may be simply betransmitted as coordinates independent of what is depicted on receiverinterface 602. Upon receiving coordinates from remote control 606, thesecoordinates can be interpreted by a television receiver as mapped ontothe grid arrangement 608. In one embodiment, coordinates received at thetelevision receiver can be scaled to match corresponding locations onthe receiver interface. For example, coordinates which are generatedupon a user's finger being placed into contact with the positionsensitive interface 612 at row 4 column 3 (4, 3), are mapped onto thereceiver interface location for the character “U”. Similarly,coordinates which are generated upon a user's finger being placed intocontact with the position sensitive interface 612 at row 7 column 1(7, 1) or column 2 (7, 2), are mapped onto the receiver interfacelocation for “* Delete”. Absolute mapping or relative navigation, asdescribed above, may be implemented in such interpretation and mappingof coordinates received to locations on the receiver interface 602.

In FIG. 6B, the receiver interface advances to another grid arrangement610, which is different from the grid arrangement 608, representing anumeral keypad for entry of numerals. Grid arrangement 610 includes fourrows and three columns. Upon receiving coordinates from remote control606, these coordinates can be mapped by a television receiver onto thegrid arrangement 610. In one embodiment, coordinates received at thetelevision receiver can be scaled to match corresponding locations onthe receiver interface. For example, coordinates which are generatedupon a user's finger being placed into contact with the positionsensitive interface 612 at row 3 column 1 (3, 1), are mapped onto thereceiver interface location for the number “7”. Similarly, coordinateswhich are generated upon a user's finger being placed into contact withthe position sensitive interface 612 at row 1 column 3 (1, 3) are mappedonto the receiver interface location for the number “3”. Absolutemapping or relative navigation, as described above, may be implementedin such interpretation and mapping of coordinates received to locationson the receiver interface 602.

Although the grid arrangements 608 and 610 shown on receiver interface602 are generally of an array nature, this is not a requirement. Anygrid arrangement is possible, and coordinates received from remotecontrol 606 can be mapped onto whatever grid arrangement is presented onreceiver interface 602 in a dynamic way, allowing for seamless andintuitive use of remote control 606 by a user.

FIG. 6C shows receiver interface modified to show another gridarrangement 614, which is different from the grid arrangements 608 and610, representing items on a video on-demand/movie rental screen. Gridarrangement 614 includes two rows. Row 1 of grid arrangement 614includes 3 columns representing 3 items. Row 2 of grid arrangement 614includes 5 columns representing 5 items. Upon receiving coordinates fromremote control 606, these coordinates can be mapped by a televisionreceiver onto the grid arrangement 614. For example, coordinates whichare generated upon a user's finger being placed into contact with theposition sensitive interface 612 at row 1 column 2 (1, 2), are mappedonto the receiver interface location for the item “Reviews”. Similarly,coordinates which are generated upon a user's finger being placed intocontact with the position sensitive interface 612 at row 2 column 5 (2,5) are mapped onto the receiver interface location for item “Title4”.Absolute mapping or relative navigation, as described above, may beimplemented in such interpretation and mapping of coordinates receivedto locations on the receiver interface 602.

FIG. 7 provides an overview of an exemplary method embodiment 700 forimplementation of dynamic scaling of a remote control position sensitiveinterface to a graphical user interface grid. Initially, at 705, a videosignal for a receiver interface is generated. At 710, the receiverinterface is modified to include a first grid arrangement. At 715, afirst coordinate is received from a remote control, such as a firstcoordinate in a stream of coordinates. At 720, the first coordinate ismapped to the first grid arrangement, such as by scaling a coordinaterange of a position sensitive interface of the remote control to matchat least a portion of the first grid arrangement. At 725, the receiverinterface is modified to include a second grid arrangement differentfrom the first grid arrangement. At 730, a second coordinate is receivedfrom the remote control. At 735, the second coordinate is mapped to thesecond grid arrangement, such as by scaling a coordinate range of aposition sensitive interface of the remote control to match at least aportion of the second grid arrangement.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a computing system or device 800. Thecomputer system 800 may be incorporated as part of one or more of theelements of the media content distribution system of FIG. 1. Forexample, in one embodiment, computer system 800 may representspecialized hardware for receiving and decoding television or digitalmedia signals, such as a television receiver. The computer device 800may perform one or more steps, operations, modules, etc., of the methodsof FIGS. 5 and 7. FIG. 8 is intended to provide a generalizedillustration of various components, any or all of which may be utilizedas appropriate. FIG. 8, therefore, broadly illustrates how individualsystem elements may be implemented in a relatively separated orrelatively more integrated manner.

The computer system 800 is shown comprising hardware elements that canbe electrically coupled via a bus 812 (or may otherwise be incommunication, as appropriate). The hardware elements may include one ormore processors 802, including without limitation one or moregeneral-purpose processors and/or one or more special-purpose processors(such as digital signal processing chips, graphics accelerationprocessors, and/or the like); one or more input devices 806, which caninclude without limitation a mouse, a keyboard, sensors, and/or thelike; and one or more output devices 808, which may include withoutlimitation a display device, a printer, and/or the like.

The computer device 800 may further include (and/or be in communicationwith) one or more non-transitory storage devices 804, which maycomprise, without limitation, local and/or network accessible storage,and/or can include, without limitation, a disk drive, a drive array, anoptical storage device, a solid-state storage device, such as a randomaccess memory (“RAM”), and/or a read-only memory (“ROM”), which can beprogrammable, flash-updateable and/or the like. Such storage devices maybe configured to implement any appropriate data stores, includingwithout limitation, various file systems, database structures, and/orthe like.

The computer system 800 optionally also includes a communicationssubsystem 810, which can include without limitation a modem, a networkcard (wireless or wired), an infrared communication device, a wirelesscommunication device, and/or a chipset (such as a Bluetooth device, an802.11 device, a WiFi device, a WiMax device, cellular communicationfacilities, etc.), and/or the like. The communications subsystem 810 maypermit data to be exchanged with a network (such as the networkdescribed below, to name one example), other computer systems, and/orany other devices described herein. In many embodiments, the computerdevice 800 will further comprise a working memory 814, which can includea RAM or ROM device, as described above.

The computer system 800 may also comprise software elements, shown asbeing currently located within the working memory 814, including anoperating system 816, device drivers, executable libraries, and/or othercode, such as one or more application programs 818, which may comprisecomputer programs provided by various embodiments, and/or may bedesigned to implement methods, and/or configure systems, provided byother embodiments, as described herein. Merely by way of example, one ormore procedures described with respect to the method(s) discussed abovemight be implemented as code and/or instructions executable by acomputer (and/or a processor within a computer); in an aspect, then,such code and/or instructions can be used to configure and/or adapt ageneral purpose computer (or other device) to perform one or moreoperations in accordance with the described methods.

A set of these instructions and/or code might be stored on anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium, such as thenon-transitory storage device(s) 804 described above. In some cases, thestorage medium might be incorporated within a computer system, such ascomputer device 800. In other embodiments, the storage medium might beseparate from a computer system (e.g., a removable medium, such as acompact disc), and/or provided in an installation package, such that thestorage medium may be used to program, configure, and/or adapt a generalpurpose computer with the instructions/code stored thereon. Theseinstructions optionally take the form of executable code, which isexecutable by the computer system 800 and/or optionally take the form ofsource and/or installable code, which, upon compilation and/orinstallation on the computer device 800 (e.g., using any of a variety ofgenerally available compilers, installation programs,compression/decompression utilities, etc.), then takes the form ofexecutable code.

It will be apparent that substantial variations may be made inaccordance with specific requirements. For example, customized hardwaremight also be used, and/or particular elements might be implemented inhardware, software (including portable software, such as applets, etc.),or both. Further, connection to other computing devices such as networkinput/output devices may be employed.

As mentioned above, the computer system 800 may perform methods inaccordance with various embodiments of the disclosure. For example, someor all of the procedures of such methods are performed by the computerdevice 800 in response to processor 802 executing one or more sequencesof one or more instructions (which might be incorporated into theoperating system 816 and/or other code, such as an application program818) contained in the working memory 814. Such instructions may be readinto the working memory 814 from another computer-readable medium, suchas one or more of the non-transitory storage device(s) 804. Merely byway of example, execution of the sequences of instructions contained inthe working memory 814 might cause the processor(s) 802 to perform oneor more procedures of the methods described herein.

The terms “machine-readable medium” and “computer-readable medium,” asused herein, refer to any non-transitory medium that participates inproviding data that causes a machine to operate in a specific fashionand/or to perform specific operations. In some embodiments implementedusing the computer system 800, various computer-readable media might beinvolved in providing instructions/code to processor(s) 802 forexecution and/or might be used to store and/or carry suchinstructions/code. In many implementations, a computer-readable mediumis a physical and/or tangible storage medium. Such a medium may take theform of a non-volatile media or volatile media. Non-volatile mediainclude, for example, optical and/or magnetic disks, such as thenon-transitory storage device(s) 804. Volatile media include, withoutlimitation, dynamic memory, such as the working memory 814.

Common forms of physical and/or tangible computer-readable mediainclude, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk,magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, any other opticalmedium, punchcards, papertape, any other physical medium with patternsof holes, a RAM, a PROM, EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip orcartridge, or any other medium from which a computer can readinstructions and/or code.

Various forms of computer-readable media may be involved in carrying oneor more sequences of one or more instructions to the processor(s) 802for execution. Merely by way of example, the instructions may initiallybe carried on a magnetic disk and/or optical disc of a remote computer.A remote computer might load the instructions into its dynamic memoryand send the instructions as signals over a transmission medium to bereceived and/or executed by the computer device 800.

The communications subsystem 810 (and/or components thereof) generallymay receive signals, and the bus 812 then might carry the signals(and/or the data, instructions, etc. carried by the signals) to theworking memory 814, from which the processor(s) 802 retrieves andexecutes the instructions. The instructions received by the workingmemory 814 may optionally be stored on a non-transitory storage device804 either before or after execution by the processor(s) 802.

It should further be understood that the components of computer system800 may be distributed across a network. For example, some processingmay be performed in one location using a first processor while otherprocessing may be performed by another processor remote from the firstprocessor. Other components of computer device 800 may be similarlydistributed.

The methods, systems, and devices discussed above are examples. Variousconfigurations may omit, substitute, or add various method steps orprocedures, or system components as appropriate. For instance, inalternative configurations, the methods may be performed in an orderdifferent from that described, and/or various stages or steps or modulesmay be added, omitted, and/or combined. Also, features described withrespect to certain configurations may be combined in various otherconfigurations. Different aspects and elements of the configurations maybe combined in a similar manner. Also, technology evolves and, thus,many of the elements are examples and do not limit the scope of thedisclosure or claims.

Specific details are given in the description to provide a thoroughunderstanding of example configurations (including implementations).However, configurations may be practiced without these specific details.For example, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, andtechniques have been shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoidobscuring the configurations. This description provides exampleconfigurations only, and does not limit the scope, applicability, orconfigurations of the claims. Rather, the preceding description of theconfigurations will provide those of skill with an enabling descriptionfor implementing described techniques. Various changes may be made inthe function and arrangement of elements without departing from thespirit or scope of the disclosure.

Also, configurations may be described as a process which is depicted asa flow diagram or block diagram. Although each may describe theoperations as a sequential process, many of the operations may beperformed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of theoperations may be rearranged. A process may have additional steps notincluded in the figure. Furthermore, examples of the methods may beimplemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode,hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. Whenimplemented in software, firmware, middleware, or microcode, the programcode or code segments to perform the necessary tasks may be stored in anon-transitory computer-readable medium such as a storage medium.Processors may perform the described tasks.

Furthermore, the example examples described herein may be implemented aslogical operations in a computing device in a networked computing systemenvironment. The logical operations may be implemented as: (i) asequence of computer implemented instructions, steps, or program modulesrunning on a computing device; and (ii) interconnected logic or hardwaremodules running within a computing device.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific tostructural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understoodthat the subject matter defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above.Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed asexample forms of implementing the claims.

1. A television receiver comprising: one or more processors; a remotecontrol interface communicatively coupled with the one or moreprocessors; an audio-video output connection communicatively coupledwith the one or more processors; and a non-transitory computer readablestorage medium communicatively coupled with and readable by the one ormore processors and having stored therein processor-readableinstructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causethe one or more processors to perform operations including: generating avideo signal for displaying a receiver interface using the audio-videooutput connection; receiving a data stream at the remote controlinterface from a remote control associated with the television receiver,wherein the data stream includes a first absolute coordinatecorresponding to a first determined position of a position sensitiveinterface of the remote control, a second absolute coordinatecorresponding to a second determined position of the position sensitiveinterface of the remote control, and a third absolute coordinatecorresponding to a third determined position of the position sensitiveinterface of the remote control, wherein an absolute coordinaterepresents a position on the position sensitive interface directlycorresponding to the absolute coordinate; interpreting the firstabsolute coordinate as a first absolute location of the receiverinterface by mapping the first determined position of the positionsensitive interface of the remote control to the first absolute locationof the receiver interface in an absolute fashion; modifying the receiverinterface to include an indicator at the first absolute location on thereceiver interface; interpreting the second absolute coordinate as afirst relative location on the receiver interface by mapping the secondabsolute coordinate to the first relative location as a first locationchange from the first absolute location based on a first direction andfirst distance between the first absolute coordinate and the secondabsolute coordinate; modifying the receiver interface to change theindicator from the first absolute location on the receiver interface tothe first relative location on the receiver interface; interpreting thethird absolute coordinate as a second relative location on the receiverinterface by mapping the third absolute coordinate to the third relativelocation as a second location change from the first relative locationbased on a second direction and second distance between the secondabsolute coordinate and the third absolute coordinate; modifying thereceiver interface to change the indicator from the first relativelocation on the receiver interface to the second relative location onthe receiver interface; and receiving a confirmation signal from theremote control, wherein the confirmation signal corresponds todetermination of a selection, and wherein the selection corresponds toselection of an indicated item of the receiver interface.
 2. Thetelevision receiver of claim 1, wherein the indicated item of thereceiver interface corresponds to an item of the receiver interfacehaving the second relative location.
 3. The television receiver of claim1, wherein the operations further include: receiving a second datastream at the remote control interface, wherein the second data streamincludes second coordinates comprising at least a starting coordinateand an ending coordinate, and wherein the second coordinates correspondto determinations of positions of the position sensitive interface ofthe remote control between a starting position and an ending position;identifying a location path of the receiver interface for movement ofthe indicator, wherein the location path corresponds to a sequence oflocations on the receiver interface from the second relative location toa final location, wherein identifying the path includes converting thesecond coordinates to a sequence of relative locations of the receiverinterface from the second relative location to the final location basedon a third direction and third distance between the starting coordinateand the ending coordinate; and modifying the receiver interface toinclude the indicator at the sequence of relative locations along thelocation path.
 4. The television receiver of claim 3, wherein theindicated item of the receiver interface corresponds to an item of thereceiver interface having the final location.
 5. The television receiverof claim 1, further comprising: receiving a second data stream at theremote control interface, wherein the second data stream includes afourth absolute coordinate corresponding to a fourth determined positionof the position sensitive interface of the remote control and a fifthabsolute coordinate corresponding to a fifth determined position of theposition sensitive interface of the remote control; interpreting thefourth absolute coordinate as a second absolute location of the receiverinterface by mapping the fourth determined position of the positionsensitive interface of the remote control to the second absolutelocation of the receiver interface in an absolute fashion; modifying thereceiver interface to include the indicator at the second absolutelocation on the receiver interface; interpreting the fifth absolutecoordinate as a third relative location on the receiver interface bymapping the fifth absolute coordinate to the third relative location asa third location change from the second absolute location based on athird direction and third distance between the fourth absolutecoordinate and the fifth absolute coordinate; and modifying the receiverinterface to change the indicator from the second absolute location onthe receiver interface to the third relative location on the receiverinterface.
 6. The television receiver of claim 5, further comprising:receiving a second confirmation signal from the remote control, whereinthe second confirmation signal corresponds to determination of a secondselection, and wherein the second selection corresponds to selection ofan item of the receiver interface indicated by the third relativelocation.
 7. The television receiver of claim 1, wherein interpretingthe first absolute location of the receiver interface includesconverting the first absolute coordinate to the first absolute locationon the receiver interface based on mapping a range of coordinates to anarrangement of items on the receiver interface.
 8. The televisionreceiver of claim 1, wherein receiving a data stream includes receivingwireless data from the remote control using a remote control interfaceof the television receiver.
 9. A computer implemented method,comprising: generating, using a television receiver including one ormore processors, a video signal for displaying a receiver interface;receiving a data stream from a remote control associated with thetelevision receiver, wherein the data stream includes a first absolutecoordinate corresponding to a first determined position of a positionsensitive interface of the remote control, a second absolute coordinatecorresponding to a second determined position of the position sensitiveinterface of the remote control, and a third absolute coordinatecorresponding to a third determined position of the position sensitiveinterface of the remote control, wherein an absolute coordinaterepresents a position on the position sensitive interface directlycorresponding to the coordinate; interpreting the first absolutecoordinate as a first absolute location of the receiver interface bymapping the first determined position of the position sensitiveinterface of the remote control to the first absolute location of thereceiver interface in an absolute fashion; modifying the receiverinterface to include an indicator at the first absolute location on thereceiver interface; interpreting the second absolute coordinate as afirst relative location on the receiver interface by mapping the secondabsolute coordinate to the first relative location as a first locationchange from the first absolute location based on a first direction andfirst distance between the first absolute coordinate and the secondabsolute coordinate; modifying the receiver interface to change theindicator from the first absolute location on the receiver interface tothe first relative location on the receiver interface; interpreting thethird absolute coordinate as a second relative location on the receiverinterface by mapping the third absolute coordinate to the third relativelocation as a second location change from the first relative locationbased on a second direction and second distance between the secondabsolute coordinate and the third absolute coordinate; modifying thereceiver interface to change the indicator from the first relativelocation on the receiver interface to the second relative location onthe receiver interface; and receiving a confirmation signal from theremote control, wherein the confirmation signal corresponds todetermination of a selection, and wherein the selection corresponds toselection of an indicated item of the receiver interface.
 10. The methodof claim 9, wherein the indicated item of the receiver interfacecorresponds to an item of the receiver interface having the secondrelative location.
 11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:receiving a second data stream from the remote control, wherein thesecond data stream includes second coordinates comprising at least astarting coordinate and an ending coordinate, and wherein the secondcoordinates correspond to determinations of positions of the positionsensitive interface of the remote control between a starting positionand an ending position; identifying a location path of the receiverinterface for movement of the indicator, wherein the location pathcorresponds to a sequence of locations on the receiver interface fromthe second relative location to a final location, wherein identifyingthe location path includes converting the second coordinates to asequence of relative locations of the receiver interface from the secondrelative location to the second final location based on a thirddirection and third distance between the starting coordinate and theending coordinate; and modifying the receiver interface to include theindicator at the sequence of relative locations along the location path.12. The method of claim 11, wherein the indicated item of the receiverinterface corresponds to an item of the receiver interface having thefinal location.
 13. The method of claim 9, further comprising: receivinga second data stream from the remote control, wherein the second datastream includes a fourth absolute coordinate corresponding to a fourthdetermined position of the position sensitive interface of the remotecontrol and a fifth absolute coordinate corresponding to a fifthdetermined position of the position sensitive interface of the remotecontrol; interpreting the fourth absolute coordinate as a secondabsolute location of the receiver interface by mapping the fourthdetermined position of the position sensitive interface of the remotecontrol to the second absolute location of the receiver interface in anabsolute fashion; modifying the receiver interface to include theindicator at the second absolute location on the receiver interface;interpreting the fifth absolute coordinate as a third relative locationon the receiver interface by mapping the fifth absolute coordinate tothe third relative location as a third location change from the secondabsolute location based on a third direction and third distance betweenthe fourth absolute coordinate and the fifth absolute coordinate; andmodifying the receiver interface to change the indicator from the secondabsolute location on the receiver interface to the third relativelocation on the receiver interface.
 14. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising: receiving a second confirmation signal from the remotecontrol, wherein the second confirmation signal corresponds todetermination of a second selection, and wherein the second selectioncorresponds to selection of an item of the receiver interface having thethird relative location.
 15. The method of claim 9, wherein interpretingthe first absolute location of the receiver interface includesconverting the first absolute coordinate to the first absolute locationon the receiver interface based on mapping a range of coordinates to anarrangement of items on the receiver interface.
 16. The method of claim9, wherein receiving a data stream includes receiving wireless data fromthe remote control using a remote control interface of the televisionreceiver.
 17. A non-transitory processor-readable medium comprisinginstructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause theone or more processors to perform operations including: generating avideo signal for displaying a receiver interface using an audio-videooutput connection of a television receiver; receiving a data stream at aremote control interface of the television receiver from a remotecontrol associated with the television receiver, wherein the data streamincludes a first absolute coordinate corresponding to a first determinedposition of a position sensitive interface of the remote control, asecond absolute coordinate corresponding to a second determined positionof the position sensitive interface of the remote control, and a thirdabsolute coordinate corresponding to a third determined position of theposition sensitive interface of the remote control, wherein an absolutecoordinate represents a location of the position sensitive interfacedirectly corresponding to the absolute coordinate; interpreting thefirst absolute coordinate as a first absolute location of the receiverinterface by mapping the first determined position of the positionsensitive interface of the remote control to the first absolute locationof the receiver interface in an absolute fashion; modifying the receiverinterface to include an indicator at the first absolute location on thereceiver interface; interpreting the second absolute coordinate as afirst relative location on the receiver interface by mapping the secondabsolute coordinate to the first relative location as a first locationchange from the first absolute location based on a first direction andfirst distance between the first absolute coordinate and the secondabsolute coordinate; modifying the receiver interface to change theindicator from the first absolute location on the receiver interface tothe first relative location on the receiver interface; interpreting thethird absolute coordinate as a second relative location on the receiverinterface by mapping the third absolute coordinate to the third relativelocation as a second location change from the first relative locationbased on a second direction and second distance between the secondabsolute coordinate and the third absolute coordinate; modifying thereceiver interface to change the indicator from the first relativelocation on the receiver interface to the second relative location onthe receiver interface; and receiving a confirmation signal from theremote control, wherein the confirmation signal corresponds todetermination of a selection, and wherein the selection corresponds toselection of an indicated item of the receiver interface.
 18. Thenon-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 1, further comprisinginstructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causethe one or more processors to perform operations including: receiving asecond data stream at the remote control interface, wherein the seconddata stream includes second coordinates comprising at least a startingcoordinate and an ending coordinate, and wherein the coordinatescorrespond to determinations of positions of the position sensitiveinterface of the remote control between a starting position and anending position; identifying a location path of the receiver interfacefor movement of the indicator, wherein the location path corresponds toa sequence of locations on the receiver interface from the secondrelative location to a final location, wherein identifying the secondlocation path includes converting the second coordinates to a sequenceof relative locations of the receiver interface from the second relativelocation to the final location based on a third direction and thirddistance between the starting coordinate and the ending coordinate; andmodifying the receiver interface to include the indicator at thesequence of relative locations along the location path.
 19. Thenon-transitory processor-readable medium of claim 1, further comprisinginstructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causethe one or more processors to perform operations including: receiving asecond data stream at the remote control interface, wherein the seconddata stream includes a fourth absolute coordinate corresponding to afourth determined position of the position sensitive interface of theremote control and a fifth absolute coordinate corresponding to a fifthdetermined position of the position sensitive interface of the remotecontrol; interpreting the fourth absolute coordinate as a secondabsolute location of the receiver interface by mapping the fourthdetermined position of the position sensitive interface of the remotecontrol to the second absolute location of the receiver interface in anabsolute fashion; modifying the receiver interface to include theindicator at the second absolute location on the receiver interface;interpreting the fifth absolute coordinate as a third relative locationon the receiver interface by mapping the fifth absolute coordinate tothe third relative location as a third location change from the secondabsolute location based on a third direction and third distance betweenthe fourth absolute coordinate and the fifth absolute coordinate; andmodifying the receiver interface to change the indicator from the secondabsolute location on the receiver interface to the third relativelocation on the receiver interface.
 20. The non-transitoryprocessor-readable medium of claim 19, further comprising: receiving asecond confirmation signal from the remote control, wherein the secondconfirmation signal corresponds to determination of a second selection,and wherein the second selection corresponds to selection of an item ofthe receiver interface indicated by the third relative location.